UK experts spark wind energy costs row

Offshore wind energy will cost at least twice as much as that from conventional sources, including nuclear power, professional institute the Royal academy of engineering claimed on Wednesday. The report follows confirmation by the government that it expects wind power will be Britain's dominant renewable energy technology at least to 2020. The British wind energy association challenged the academy's estimates, particularly of the costs of back-up for wind power. Costs of wind generation should fall dramatically by 2020, it said. See academy statement, wind industry response, and government review press release.

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